Picture by Alex Davidson/Getty Images. Anthony McGrath and Mick Lewis, photo’d whilst on Essex duty, have been looking ahead to the Ashes.
Ashes fever has gripped the Yorkshire dressing room, and two close coaching mates have had a bit of a disagreement. No surprise, really, with Anthony McGrath a proud Englishman and a former international, with Mick Lewis a true blue Aussie who has also represented his country with distinction.
The first Test starts in Perth next week – Thursday November 21 to be precise – and Yorkshire’s men’s head coach and their bowling coach have been looking ahead to a hotly anticipated series.
“Obviously, I want England to do well, of course, and win,” said McGrath. “It’s difficult to win in Australia, we all know that.
“I think a lot will depend on the injuries, particularly in the bowling department, but I’m hopeful that England can get the job done this time. I’m going to go 2-1 England.”
While batting all-rounder McGrath represented England in four Tests and 14 one-day internationals in 2003 and 2004, fast bowler Lewis played for Australia in seven ODIs and two T20 internationals in 2005 and 2006.
I think it’s going to be a fascinating series,” said Lewis.
Pix: Matthew Lewis/SWPix.com. Anthony McGrath pulls for England versus Zimbabwe at Durham in 2003.
“Obviously, last time Australia were over here (2-2 in 2023), the whole talk was about Bazball. But going to Australia, it’s a massive challenge. It’s a big Everest to climb.
“I think it’s going to be pretty close, but I think Australia will get up 3-2.
“The first Test in Perth is massive. If England can really target that and beat Australia in Perth, because Australia really pencils in two venues – Perth and Queensland – because they’re so unique.
“If England make a real big focus to beat them in that first Test, it really is game on then because some of the next venues they go to – Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney – suits England a bit more than Australia.”
McGrath is happy with the squad selected by coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.
He said: “I know you’re going to want pace out there, but you’ve got to have skill as well. I think the big thing for England this time is the coaching set-up and the captain in Ben Stokes.
Picture by Hamish Blair/Getty Images. Mick Lewis on tour of South Africa with Australia in 2006.
“I don’t think they’re going to be too influenced by things off the field, whereas other travelling England teams perhaps have been in the past.
“As we’ve said, it’s a difficult place to go. If you lose early on, the Aussie media and crowd can get against you, and you feel very isolated. So I think, having watched from the outside how Brendon and Ben go about it, I think they’ve got a bit of that siege mentality and a lot of belief.
“I think they’re going to try and fight fire with fire.
“The start is important, but we’ve seen in other series when they’ve gone behind, they don’t panic. They tend to double down on what they’re doing.”
McGrath and Lewis recently sat down for yorkshireccc.com for a full, near half-hour series preview, which was filmed and will be available later today.
Yorkshire have two players involved in England’s squad in Harry Brook and Joe Root, both certain starters at Optus Stadium next week.
Picture by Stu Forster/Getty Images. Joe Root and Harry Brook will be vital to England’s Ashes chances.
This summer saw Lewis work with the pair for the first time – and, no surprise, he was mightily impressed.
He added: “We only had them for a short period of the year, but it was great to have them both around the changing rooms and just to talk about cricket.
“I remember there was one session this year when I think I was throwing to Rooty and he asked me, ‘What are you trying to do?’
“I was telling him what I saw, and it was a great conversation.
“Brooky was brilliant. That game he came in for (Warwickshire at Headingley), it was like he hadn’t been away. They’re both just brilliant to have around.”
